Good Friday 2016

Good Friday is a public holiday in many Christian majority and western countries. It is observed every year by Christians around the world to commemorate the crucifixion, suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Good Friday falls on three days before the Easter Sunday or may even fall on any Friday between March 20th and April 23rd every year based on certain calculations. This year Good Friday 2016 is falling on March 25th, 2016.

Christians across the globe observe fast on Good Friday to commemorate the suffering of Jesus Christ. People may even eat only one meal on the day or avoid meat in accordance with fortitude and their own convenience.

The passion, sacrifice, suffering and death, Jesus Christ, the son of god experienced on the cross are observed as the Good Friday. It is the day when all our sin was carried to heaven. Even when Christ was made to suffer, he prayed for the people, he prayed to God to forgive the wrong doers. This teaching of forgiving and love to everyone is what the world needs today. That is what Good Friday is all about.

Good Friday background:

Jesus Christ, Son of God underwent a 40 days fast in the desert before he started preaching. The almighty Jesus lectured the need for prayer and fasting to the people in order to overcome the evils for a better life. Then, the people of Jerusalem accepted Jesus Christ as their king whole heartedly provoked the rulers of Jerusalem. The rulers feared that they would lose their power and loyalty from people and planned a plot against Jesus. The church rulers motivated Judas to betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver and Jesus was arrested for betrayal reason on Thursday, referred to as the Maundy Thursday. The next day, Friday he was made to carry the wooden cross on which he was later crucified. This day is the darkest day ever in Christianity thus, this day came to be observed as the Good Friday.

Origin

The Apostolic foundation of Good Friday is not of festive happiness rather it is a day of mourning. So why is it called the 'Good Friday"? The origin of the word is believed to be from 'Gute Fretage' as the day is called by the Gallican church in Gaul (the modern France and Germany). Gute Fretage stands for good or holy Friday. Some believe that originally it was called as God's Friday and later the word God got replaced by good. It is also said that God was changed to Good, as God is a too holy word for commoners to say. In some countries it is also called Long Friday, Silent Friday, Holy Friday, Black Friday and Great Friday. Many believe that it is rightfully called the good Friday because on this day Jesus took away the people's sin and arose to heaven three days before Sunday. The day on which Jesus arose after death is celebrated as Easter.

In the year 1998, a peace agreement was signed in Belfast by the British and Irish government to improve the Northern Ireland peace process. It ended the conflict between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. As the date of signing the peace treaty, April 10, 1998 was a Good Friday, this agreement is also called the Good Friday agreement.

In the first century, every Friday was considered to be a special day for prayer and fasting, but this did not have any connection with Christ's crucifixion. It was only in the fourth century that the church started observing the Friday before Easter as the day has is very much associated with Jesus Christ crucifixion. It was first called the Great Friday by the Greek Church. Later in the sixth or seventh century, the name good Friday was adopted.

Celebrations on Good Friday

On Good Friday, Christians all around the world observe Good Friday by mourning, fasting, procession and attending the service at the church.

All the businesses are closed and a public holiday is given on this day to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for the people on the day of crucifixion.

People attend services in church which may last up to three hours, the time duration Jesus Christ suffered on the cross or in accordance with the convenience of people.

The Christians between eighteen to sixty years of age keep a fast on this day and eat very little.

People eat hot cross bun on this day and completely avoid meat. Some even avoids all sorts of non vegetarian foods when some others eat sea foods.

The people kisses the plank of wood cross, representing crucifixion and the service follows. On this day, the church bell remains silent as it is mourning day.